When you first begin to collect and work with crystals you will immediately run into the Three C's of Crystals. That is choosing, cleansing and charging.

Choosing a Crystal

Whether you are looking for a crystal for yourself or as a gift for someone else, whether you are looking for a healing or magical tool, or maybe you are just looking for a piece of jewellery or a living room ornament with some special meaning, some research and forethought should go into your search.
Most minerals and crystals are classed into vague categories depending on the energy they are associated with. Health, wealth, happiness, love, protection, peace, luck, and grounding are only a few of the attributes. Many stones have multiple attributes. (See our crystal and mineral attribute charts for a list of guidelines or contact us for a personal consultation.)

Choosing a crystal is an intuitive process. That means that usually your first impression is right. The more you think about it and try to decide, the more your thinking mind is clouding the process and the more likely you are to make the wrong choice. Fortunately all crystals are cool, and there is really is no wrong choice, it just might not be the one needed for the purpose you originally intended. It's a funny thing, but sometimes the crystal will choose you!
Once you have found the kind of crystal you want (i.e. a good luck crystal), set the crystal in front of you, or put the picture on your computer screen if you are shopping online, close your eyes, relax and think about the desired qualities you want in the crystal. Open your eyes and you will know if this is the one. It is that simple. The more you fret over making the decision the more you cloud the issue and the more difficult it will be to find the right one.
It is fun to hold lots of different crystals and to wait for the right one to "speak" to you. But crystals all hold a charge of energy. By handling more than a few you will find yourself over stimulated from the vibrations. Unless you are very good at working with and releasing this energy, it will only get in the way of making a sound decision.

Trust your first impression; that's what first impressions are for.

Cleansing your Crystals

When crystals are first purchased they should be cleansed to clear any vibrational energy they may have picked through people handling them or through their past history. Cleansing also resets their vibration to be receptive to the new home and owner.

There is something else to consider if someone gives you a crystal as a gift. By cleansing it you are removing all the good intention that the gift-giver put into the stone. This good intention was meant for you. It might be a good idea to enjoy the gift as it is for a while. Eventually you will want to cleanse the crystal, so that you can begin to use and enjoy it for your own purposes.

When we talk of cleansing or clearing a crystal, we mean that we are releasing psychic, emotional and energetic buildup. It is also important to keep your crystals clean and dust free. Finger prints and dust accumulation will dull the sparkle and shine and inhibit the natural energy the crystal emits. Even the act of polishing and caring for your crystals will encourage them to emit a happier and cleaner energy. Like anything else, crystals and stones like to be treated in a manner that is respectful and loving. They enjoy being in plain sight where they can reflect their light and radiate their beauty. Pay attention to your crystal and mineral friends and they will return the friendship and goodwill many times over. In fact there is nothing wrong with reaching out and touching your crystals and saying "good morning" to them. This is all part of the ongoing process of charging the crystal with your personal energy and intentions.

Cleaning and polishing is an ongoing and enjoyable process. Unless crystals and stones are being used actively in healing practices they will usually not need to be cleansed very often. But periodic cleansing and recharging is recommended to release unwanted energy and to enhance your connection with your collection.

The light of the full moon or direct sunlight is also very good for regular maintenance cleansing, but be careful sunlight can damage some crystals like amethyst. Some crystals will dissolve in water, and others will change colour with heat. So make sure you research your particular stone before you do anything with it.

I particularly like the feel of my crystals after they have sat out overnight under the light of a full moon. I is also very cool to sit out with them. Again, a word of caution: rain, raccoons, magpies and neighborhood children can be hard on your collection. Make sure you plan carefully.

Another effective way of keeping your crystals clear and vibrant is in how you store them. I've already mentioned that crystals like to be stored in open view in a bright area of your home. Putting your smaller crystals on a larger cluster or plate of amethyst will add a subtle and constant cleansing effect. Storing them on a plate or cluster of clear quartz will take advantage of the amplifying affects of quartz keeping your crystals charged and "buzzing' with energy.

A word of caution at this point: as with any good thing it is possible to over do it. Crystals give off energy. If you fill your house with many different kinds, or with too many crystals, you can create an over stimulated environment that leaves you, your guests and your pets feeling jittery and uncomfortable. We see this all the time in our store, a customer comes in and is all excited to see all the lovely stones. The touch the all, hold them and try to connect with as many as they can. Very soon many become confused and agitated. Often they leave in a hurry with a slight look of panic on their faces. Remember the energy is good, but too much energy of any kind is just that: too much.

For "industrial strength" clearing and for the initial cleansing of newly acquired stones it is best to cleanse with the healing powers of nature using one or more of the four elements combined with intention.

EARTH - a slow and very powerful cleanse can be done by burying your crystal in the earth for the period of one lunar month. This can be in your garden or in a flower pot of freshly dug soil. This method is not recommended for crystals and minerals that do not like moisture. Again, I say do your research; know your stones. As you place you crystal in the soil say out loud; "I cleanse you with the nurturing powers of the Earth."
AIR - smudging with sage smoke or natural (non-perfumed) incense is a quick and easy way to cleanse your collection. Simply light the sage and pass the crystal through the smoke or use a feather, fan or your hand to move the smoke over the crystal. NEVER blow the smoke with your breath, it is considered disrespectful. As you pass the crystal through he smoke say out loud: "I cleanse you with the power of the air." Repeat this until it feels complete.
FIRE - using a red candle (red is the colour of healing, protection and pure thought), pass the crystal through or near the flam quickly. Be careful with crystals that might react to heat. Say out loud: "I cleanse you with fire." Repeat this until it feels complete.
WATER - one of the gentlest and most effective ways to quickly cleanse crystals and minerals is to place them in a natural flowing stream. Of course this method does not work for crystals and minerals that will be damaged by water. Be sure to put the stones in a natural cotton or mesh bag. They have a strong tendency to want to return to nature and an amazing ability to disappear into the bottom of the creek. As you placed the bag of crystals in the flowing water say out loud: "I cleanse you with water." Leave them for ten or 15 minutes while you sit quietly by and meditate on releasing pent up energies in yourself and in your crystals. If you don't have access to a clean flowing creek, you can use cold flowing tap water or even a soak in a bowl of lightly salted cold water. Be sure to rinse the salt water from the crystals after the soak.

Charging your Crystals

Crystals are similar to batteries or computers in that they can be charged with energy or information/intention; that charge is stored and can be retrieved and used at a later time. As with batteries and computers, the more logical, clear, controlled and concise the input; the more likely you are to get the predictable output you desire. Batteries use voltage and computers use machine language and complicated programs as input. Crystals use the energy of emotion and desire along with the "language" of active visualization and the vibration of sound for their input.

Before you charge a crystal, and usually before you buy it, decide how you will use the crystal. Will it be part of your personal collection, a gift for a friend, a healing tool, a spiritual/psychic aid, a power generator or something else? First and foremost you must be clear on what you want.

The actual act of charging is as simple as holding your crystal in one hand and using your power hand (usually your right hand if you are right handed or our left if you are left handed) to project energy into the crystal. Picture very clearly what you want the crystal to store and state in a steady, confident voice the powers that you are intentionally programming into the crystal. Keep it simple. It is usually best to charge a single intention into each crystal. Multiple intentions are possible, but it is likely that you will create confused and conflicting images which will create unwanted and unintentional outcomes.

If you are right handed (I mean that your right hand is your power or projecting hand and your left is your receptive hand) you would hold the crystal by the base with your left hand. Hold you right hand above the point. Every one has the natural ability to flow energy from one hand to the other. It's a natural "circuit" we have, and one that, with practice can become very powerful. Use this energy flow to pour your visualization and intention into the crystal. You are working against the natural flow direction of the crystal. It will usually sent energy from the base out through the point. So is it normal to feel some resistance to your efforts. Be gentle, not forceful. This is a cooperative effort and the crystal is your friend. It's like charging a battery. It takes time and gentle (psychic) pressure.

You can increase the power and effectiveness of your intention by ritualizing your charging process. This involves advanced magical practices that shouldn't be attempted without proper training. Choosing the correct timing, establishing a sacred space and meditative state, and adding herbs, incense and oils will add to the effectiveness of your programming. But that is a long discussion and a topic for another time. For now let's keep it simple.

If you are charging a stone that you bought to put in your living room because it matches your curtains or you are simply filling a category in your collection you may not want to charge it al all. You can do that later if you decide to use it for another purpose. You might want to charge it with a sense of beauty or peace. Picture you and your friends admiring the crystal. Feel the admiration and delight you have as you gaze on it's beauty. Say the words: "You are beautiful." Send this energy into the crystal.

If you are programming a personal crystal which will be worn as a pendant or carried in pocket or pouch you might want to infuse happiness, health or protection in to the stone. You can buy specific stones for these and many other purposes, that means the stone has a natural affinity to those specific traits, and will hold that specific programming better that others. If you find yourself worrying about your security you might want to take a protection stone like obsidian and infusing it with happiness, thus creating a charm that will help you feel better about your safety.

Crystals are often bought as gifts for other people. If you are buying a crystal to give to a friend, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. First is: you have no right to try to change anyone who doesn't want to change. If you are buying a stone intended to fix someone's situation, you must ask them first. Moreover, unless you are a qualified physiologist, therapist, healer, crystal worker and magician you probably don't have the expertise to solve anyone's major problems using crystal therapy. It's better to stick to basic stones as gifts: love, good health, good luck or grounding stones; something that shows that you care but that doesn't interfere with their lives.

The second this to remember when gifting crystal is that your good intentions will be programmed into the crystal just from the act of searching for and thinking about the person you are shopping for. Keep your thoughts positive and project feeling of love. You are giving a gift because you care...that is enough.

To charge a gift crystal, picture the recipient in perfect health and happiness as you hold the crystal in the proper manner. Project this image into the crystal with the words; "This crystal is for you (use their name) with my best intentions."

The crystalline structures deep within the earth, from which all our crystal friends originated is a world of love and deep peace. This world knows nothing of hate, malice and vindictiveness. If you try to project these or other controlling images into a crystal with the intent of harming or forcing change on another person, these energies will simply be reflected back at you and could possible damage the crystal. This includes the person who thinks they are helping by "hiding" a helpful program to secretly force changes on another, regardless of how good your intentions are. Always get permission first and be honest about your motives.

In charging a generator your visualization will be less specific in so far as the outcome of the energy output, and more focused on the amplification of the energy itself. Picture a flow of white light entering the base of the crystal, as is passes through the crystal it flows through a vortex and grows into a great powerful beam of light shooting up through the point and expanding into the universe. When this generator is used it will have the ability to amplify any thought or intention and send the energy out into the world and beyond.
This process is similar for: gateway crystals, where the imagery is that of a doorway that allows passage from one place (or time) to another; Isis/Manifestation crystals, links to the Goddess Mother; and Channeling, Transmitter, Dow and others. By studying the specific attributes if each configuration you will learn and understand the charge that each needs.

Healing crystals fall into two general categories: tools which will be used in therapeutic work, and ambient crystals which are used to generate a field of vibration or to absorb energy. All healing crystals can be programmed to remove physical ailments, to speed healing, to easy spiritual and emotional blockages or for many other specific goals. Natural wands can be programmed to cut lines of energy or to project a focused stream of energy to a specific local. Eggs and Hearts can be programmed to absorb and dissipate blockages so they can be used as massage tools. Others can be programmed to aid in meditation, enhance relaxation, increase concentration or any other area where the user needs assistance.

The best way to learn how to properly cleanse and charge crystals is through practice. Work with your own personal collection as much as possible. Get comfortable with programming stones and using them before you attempt to give one to someone else, and certainly before you try to heal or fix someone else. There is training available for healers. Crystal work can stir up all kinds of spiritual, physical and emotional drama, it's not something to be toyed with.